Upgrade to 2.6.3 Error 1603 configuration failed

[RichardNairn]

Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26200.8117]

WSL Version

2.5.9

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

No response

Distro Version

No response

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

running wsl --update failes with 1603 error in powershell (admin mode)

Expected Behavior

It should update WSL

Actual Behavior

Checking for updates.
Updating Windows Subsystem for Linux to version: 2.6.3.
Update failed (exit code: 1603).
Log file: D:\TEMP\wsl-install-logs.txt
Error code: Wsl/UpdatePackage/ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE

Diagnostic Logs

wsl-install-logs.txt

[github-actions]

Logs are required for review from WSL team

If this a feature request, please reply with '/feature'. If this is a question, reply with '/question'.
Otherwise, please attach logs by following the instructions below, your issue will not be reviewed unless they are added. These logs will help us understand what is going on in your machine.

How to collect WSL logs

Download and execute collect-wsl-logs.ps1 in an administrative powershell prompt:

Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/WSL/master/diagnostics/collect-wsl-logs.ps1" -OutFile collect-wsl-logs.ps1
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
.\collect-wsl-logs.ps1

The script will output the path of the log file once done.

If this is a networking issue, please use .\collect-wsl-logs.ps1 -LogProfile networking instead, following the instructions in Collect WSL logs for networking issues

Once completed please upload the output files to this GitHub issue.

See Collect WSL logs (recommended method).

If you choose to email these logs instead of attaching them to the bug, please send them to wsl-gh-logs@microsoft.com with the GitHub issue number in the subject, and include a link to your GitHub issue comment in the message body, and reply with '/emailed-logs'.

[RichardNairn]

Install log attached

[RichardNairn]

WslLogs-2026-04-05_13-38-55.zip

[github-actions]

Diagnostic information

Appx package is not installed
Detected user visible error: Wsl/UpdatePackage/ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE

[chemwolf6922]

Hi @RichardNairn. The installer log shows a pending system reboot that's blocking it's operation. Could you please try reboot the system and run wsl --update again?

[RichardNairn]

Same outcome. Fresh boot

WslLogs-2026-04-13_16-45-52.zip

wsl-install-logs.txt

[github-actions]

Diagnostic information

Appx package is not installed
Detected user visible error: Wsl/UpdatePackage/ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE

[guanwenbin123]

Thanks for the notification. Update received. 获取 Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>

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________________________________ 发件人: github-actions[bot] ***@***.***> 发送时间: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 6:49:02 AM 收件人: microsoft/WSL ***@***.***> 抄送: Subscribed ***@***.***> 主题: Re: [microsoft/WSL] Upgrade to 2.6.3 Error 1603 configuration failed (Issue #40114) [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/in/15368?s=20&v=4]github-actions[bot] left a comment (microsoft/WSL#40114)<#40114 (comment)> Diagnostic information Appx package is not installed Detected user visible error: Wsl/UpdatePackage/ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE ― Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#40114 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/B677FUKRM3G2KP5KCY42HB34VVVFZAVCNFSM6AAAAACXNOKT7SVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DENBQGEYDGNRSGA>. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[chemwolf6922]

@RichardNairn . I'm not able to root cause this yet. But could you please try disable wsl from the Turn Windows features on or off panel, restart, enable wsl from it, restart again. And try install the new version from the msi directly? You may find the installer here: https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases/tag/2.6.3
This operation will not loss your distros.

[RichardNairn]

That is what I did - I was able to disable and reinstall WSL with the current version. Something must have been incomplete during an install and left it in a bad state.

Thanks